It had been a long day. Pulling into the last farm brought a mix of sweet relief combined with the sense of scraping the bottom of my solar plexus - searching for one last ounce of energy. Only a few more, I told myself. I can do this. Walking our tools up the steep hill …
Continue reading "Approach with Heart and Vision"
As a farrier, continuing education is important to me. Every year my business partner, Rodd, and I travel to various clinics and conventions in Canada and the United States so we can keep learning, improving, and helping the horses we serve. A few years into my farrier career, I attended the International Hoof Care Summit …
Continue reading "A Heart for Knowledge"
As I built a barn to bring home my horse Grace, I prepared to bring home another horse, Atticus. This feisty, athletic gelding, with a curiosity that would put cats to shame, daunted and thrilled me to become his caretaker. Horses, like people, are social creatures. As herd animals, they need company, preferably one of …
Continue reading "Atticus Runs Home"
The first shoe I ever pulled off a horse took 45 minutes. My arms, hands, back and legs were screaming at me why are you doing this??? Beads of perspiration dripped into my eyes as my fingers gave their best death grip on tools that felt awkward and heavier with each passing second. Still, the …
Continue reading "Climbing Horseshoe Mountain"
The first time I heard the word farrier, I thought it had something to do with taxidermy. No, I was told, it is the person who cares for the horses hooves. The horses need regular trimming and sometimes shoeing, and the farrier travels around to different barns to provide this service. My highly opinionated project …
Continue reading "Become A What?"
What is in a name? A LOT! Contessa was proof of that. A two year old dark bay filly with attitude coming out of every pore - she was a handful. Contessa was born on the farm a couple of years before Aquila and I arrived as WWOOFers. From the moment she entered the world, …
Continue reading "A Diva Named Contessa"
There are plans, and then there is life. Initially, Aquila and I were to stay at our WWOOF location for two weeks. Nearly two years later, we were still there. The farm owners were looking for long term apprentices and we were happy to fill those roles. Despite my family believing I had joined …
Continue reading "I’m Addicted to Horses"
My Horse Heart 